title: National HPV immunisation programme: knowledge and acceptance of mothers attending an obstetrics clinic at a teaching hospital, Kuala Lumpur.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Introduction of the HPV vaccine is a forefront primary prevention method in reducing the incidence of carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer. The Malaysia government has implemented the National HPV immunisation programme since 2010, supplying HPV vaccine free to targeted 13 year olds. This study aimed to explore the level of knowledge among mothers on cervical cancer, HPV, HPV vaccine and National HPV (NHPV) immunisation programme since its' implementation. It also assessed acceptance of mothers towards HPV vaccine being administered to their daughter, son or themselves.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional study was conducted on 155 respondents using self-administered questionnaires; conducted in December 2012 at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Clinic in a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Respondents were selected using a multistage sampling technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A response rate of 100% was obtained. Overall, 51.0% of mothers had good knowledge, with 55% having good knowledge of cervical cancer, 54.2% for both HPV and the National HPV immunisation programme and 51.0% for the HPV vaccine. Regression analyses showed that ethnicity was associated with knowledge on cervical cancer (p=0.003) while education was associated with knowledge on HPV (p=0.049). Three factors are associated with knowledge of the National HPV immunisation programme; ethnicity (p=0.017), mothers' education (p=0.0005) and number of children (p=0.020). The acceptance of HPV vaccine to be administered among daughter was the highest at 87.1%, followed by for mothers themselves at 73.5%, and the least is for sons 62.6%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that the overall level of knowledge was moderate. Adequate information on cervical cancer, HPV, HPV vaccination and the National HPV immunisation programme should be provided to mothers in order to increase acceptance of the HPV vaccine which can reduce the disease burden in the future.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Health, National University of Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. sh_ezat@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sharifa Wan Puteh
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Ezat
authors.forename: Rozita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hod
authors.forename: Jamsiah
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mustafa
authors.forename: Ahmad Zailani Hatta
authors.initials: AZ
authors.lastname: Mohd Dali
authors.forename: Aqmar Suraya
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sulaiman
authors.forename: Azlin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Azman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology*; D009313:National Health Programs; D009679:Nuclear Family; D009774:Obstetrics; D027383:Papillomaviridae / Q000276:immunology; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000821:virology; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D053918:Papillomavirus Vaccines